Illinois starts fast, Razorbacks can’t catch up in 90-77 Thanksgiving loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 19/21 Arkansas trailed 11-0 to start the game and could never recover in a 90-77 loss to Illinois. The game was played at T-Mobile Center and marked the first time CBS had ever televised a college basketball game on Thanksgiving.

The game also featured twins squaring off against each other and the pair shined. Illinois featured 7-1 Tomislav Ivisic and Arkansas has the older by four minutes, 7-2 Zvonimir Ivisic.

Tomislav had 21 points, going 6-of-9 from 3-point range, and added 10 rebounds with three blocked shots, two assists and two steals. Zvonimir had 13 points, going 3-of-6 from deep, with six rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.

Tomislav set the tone early, assisting on the Fighting Illini’s first basket (a 3-pointer) then hit two 3-pointers as Illinois staked an 11-0 lead. He ended the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds, making 4-of-7 from deep.

He only took four shots in the second half and made three, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

Zvonimir did his damage in the second half, scoring 11 of his 13 points and going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Arkansas worked its deficit to nine twice in the second half, but Illinois answered both times.

The Illini were also led by Kasparas Jakucionis with 23 points and Kylan Boswell with 18 points and six assists.

The Razorbacks got a career-high 26 points from Adou Thiero, who was 12-od-21 at the free throw line. Billy Richmond III added 12 points and Johnell Davis dished out six assists.

Arkansas stays on the road to face the Miami Hurricanes in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari on the sidelines against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Kansas City. / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com

FIRST HALF: Illinois 49, Arkansas 34

• Illinois was 9-of-16 from 3-point range and Arkansas was 0-of-7.

• Illinois started on an 11-0 run.

• The Illini shot 55.2% from the field (56.3% from 3-point) thanks to 12 assists on 16 made baskets.

• Tomislav Ivisic led Illinois with 13 points, making 4-of-7 from deep. He added seven rebounds as well.

• Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with 10 points.

Arkansas Razorbacks forward Billy Richmond II talks with official against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Kansas City. / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 43, Illinois 41

• Arkansas won the second half as it shot 51.6% from the field and going 5-of-10 from deep. Arkansas also had eight assists to Illinois’ four and the Hogs committed just three second-half turnovers.

• Trevon Brazile made a 3-pointer with 10:57 left to cut the Razorback deficit to nine. Later, Billy Richmond III had a steal and a dunk to get the Hogs to within nine with 4:13 left.

Arkansas Razorbacks forward Billy Richmond II talks with official against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Kansas City. / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com Fighting Illini in Kansas City. / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com

GAME NOTES:

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic.

• Arkansas won the opening tip. The Hogs have won the tip in all seven games.

• Illinois’ Ben Humrichous scored the game’s first points on a 3-pointer at 19:18. D.J. Wagner scored the first points for Arkansas at 16:01.

• Billy Richmond III was Arkansas’ first sub.

• Arkansas is now 1-6 all-time versus Illinois, including a 1-5 mark in neutral-site games. The Razorbacks’ lone win was in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Championship in Des Moines.

• Arkansas falls to 8-7 all-time in Kansas City. The Hogs had a four-game win streak in KC snapped with the loss.

• Adou Thiero has tied or set career highs in almost every stat category in six of the seven games this season. His career-high 26 points came courtesy of career highs in free throws made (12) and attempted (21.). His 21 attempts tie for fifth-most by a Razorback in a game and are three shy of the Arkansas single-game record (22-of-24 by Martin Terry in 1972)

• Jonas Aidoo saw his first real action of the season. In the first six games, he played in three, seeing 20 total minutes and scoring two points in the season opener. Versus Illinois, he played 10:54, scored two points and grabbed three rebounds.

• Arkansas missed its first seven 3-point attempts until Zvonimir Ivisic hit a triple at the 17:31 mark of the second half.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.